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NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AFP) - Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, who each scored late goals Saturday to remain undefeated in regional World Cup 2010 qualifying, meet here Wednesday in a key match.
Frankie Hejduk's goal in the 88th minute lifted the Americans into a 2-2 draw at El Salvador in a Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualifier for South Africa.
"In some ways we feel like we lost a couple points," US star Landon Donovan said. "If we win our home games and tie on the road that's plenty to get us through."
Ataullah Guerra's goal in the 89th minute gave Trinidad and Tobago a 1-1 home draw with Honduras, leaving the Caribbean side and the Salvadorans level in fourth on the table after two draws in as many matches.
"It was with heart more than football that we were able to get one point," said Trinidad and Tobago coach Francisco Maturana.
The US squad tops the six-team qualifying group with four points after the draw and an opening 2-0 home win over Mexico. The Mexicans beat Costa Rica 2-0 at home on Saturday to match their foes for second at 1-1.
Wednesday's other qualifiers will find Mexico at winless Honduras and the Salvadorans, who would have topped the table by beating the Americans, at Costa Rica.
The top trio from the group will advance to World Cup 2010 in South Africa while the fourth-place CONCACF team will face the fifth-place team from South America to determine another World Cup qualifier.
Mexico or Costa Rica can seize the early table lead should the US stumble at home against the Soca Warriors in a matchup that will see both clubs boosted by the return of familiar faces.
Chris Birchall and Clayton Ince will be back for Trinidad and Tobago after missing Saturday's match for accumulated yellow cards, but star Dwight Yorke remains out in a four-match FIFA ban for verbal abuse of a referee.
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones was bench for the Honduras match but could be fresh off the bench to face the Americans.
Top US goaltender Tim Howard, also serving a yellow card suspension, will return and defender Oguchi Onyewu, who sprained a knee in practice, is likely to be back on the field after sitting out the El Salvador match.
The Americans added Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein to the roster for Wednesday's match and sent goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann back to English side Reading with Howard's return.
The Salvadorans had not scored against the US side since 1997 and seized their first lead over the Americans in 16 years before headers by Jozy Altidore and Hejduk rescued a draw for the visitors.
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